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Fitchburg State captures MASCAC title

Sentinel & Enterprise

Updated:
02/24/2013 07:35:13 AM EST

COURTESY PHOTO
The Fitchburg State University men's basketball team celebrates after winning the first MASCAC Tournament title in program history with an 80-27 victory over MCLA Saturday in North Adams.

By Howard Herman

Berkshire Eagle

NORTH ADAMS -- There was such unbridled joy among the Fitchburg State University players and coaches after Saturday's MASCAC Tournament championship game, head coach Derek Shell made sure of one thing.

"Don't lose that net," said Shell, as his players cut down the net after claiming the first MASCAC men's basketball championship in school history.

Fifth-seeded Fitchburg used a 20-5 run midway through the second half to take control of the game. The Falcons went on to beat second-seeded MCLA, 80-72, before a raucous crowd in the Amsler Campus Center.

For Shell, it was a promise come true.

"We have a pretty diverse group of kids that come from a lot of different backgrounds.

When I recruited them and said this was our ultimate goal, I don't know if they believed me or not," the coach said. "Now they helped validate that prediction."

Mike Ingram-Rubin had a game-high 25 points and was named the tournament's most-valuable player. He was one of three Falcons to score in double figures. Tom Henneberry had 16 points and Zach Valliere scored 15 for Fitchburg (16-10).

Fitchburg State senior guard Jeremy Kimber tweeted after the game: "It's a blessing!! I love my team and I love my city!!!"

MCLA earned home court for the championship game after beating No. 3 Salem State on Thursday night, while the Falcons downed top-seeded Westfield State in Thursday's other semifinal.

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MCLA and conference coach of the year Jamie Morrison weren't going to go quietly. When Ramon Viches hit two free throws with 1:52 left, MCLA had cut an eight-point deficit to two.

The Trailblazers put on a full-court press, but Kimber passed over top of the press and Valliere slammed home an uncontested dunk and MCLA got no closer.

John Jones had 16 points and a game-high five assists to lead the Trailblazers. Kenny Suggs scored 13 off the bench, Richard Johnson had 12 and Anthony Barbosa scored 10 in the second half.

The Falcons are headed to the NCAA Division III tournament, and will learn who and where they will play after the conclusion of Sunday's tournament championship games.

MCLA led 35-27 at halftime, holding Fitchburg to one basket -- a 3-pointer by Ingram-Rubin, over the final 2:29 of the half. Suggs hit two free throws with 2.8 seconds left, giving MCLA the eight-point lead.

The Falcons opened the second half with a 5-0 run, cutting the MCLA lead to three. MCLA head coach Morrison had to smile because his team weathered that storm and built the lead back up. When Jones went coast-to-coast after Richard Johnson rebounded a free-throw miss by Fitchburg's Valliere, it was 41-33 with 17:20 left.

Fitchburg State set out on a 9-1 run, and when Ingram-Rubin scored on a putback with 14:20 left, the game was tied at 42.

"We have a veteran crew with six seniors and we've been down at halftime before," said Shell. "(The key was) rebounding and defense. That's it, always."

The Falcons eventually went up 72-64 on a hoop by Kimber with 2:56 left. Morrison's team, however, wasn't done. The Trailblazers got baskets from Barbosa and Cross and two free throws from Viches, making it a two-point game. But the dunk by Valliere put the game back in Fitchburg's control.

The game might just have been lost at the free-throw line. The Trailblazers, who were 6 for 8 in the first half, were 13 for 20 from the line in the second, including a 3 for 8 late in the second half.

"Thursday night we were 23 of 27 from the line. Tonight, free-throw shooting in critical situations really put us behind the 8-ball," said Morrison. "If we make those shots, we probably surge ahead. If we surge ahead, we probably finish the job.

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